Jamovi has become one of the best options for analyzing thesis data without spending money or writing code. It is free, open-source, menu-driven like SPSS, and unlike SPSS it produces tables that are very close to APA format, saving hours of reformatting. This guide is the map of how to use it for your thesis, with links to tutorials for each step.
What jamovi is and how to download it
Jamovi is a free statistical program built on R but with a menu interface that requires no programming. Download it free from the official website for Windows, Mac or Linux; there is also a cloud version you can run in a browser. It supports multiple languages and is updated frequently. The key difference from R is that you do not see code (though you can turn it on if you want to learn), and the key difference from SPSS is that it is free and its output is designed for publication.
Jamovi, JASP or SPSS: which one is right for you
All three work for a thesis. SPSS is the most widespread but commercial; JASP shines for Bayesian statistics; jamovi stands out for its module flexibility and comfortable data editing. The direct comparison is in JASP vs jamovi, and if you are choosing between these and R or SPSS, SPSS vs R vs JASP will orient you. If you are already using SPSS, there is a dedicated SPSS for thesis guide.
Preparing the data
As with any program, analysis starts with a well-built dataset. In jamovi you define each variable's type (continuous, ordinal, nominal or ID) directly in the spreadsheet, and that determines which analyses are offered. Spend time labelling levels and declaring missing values: that is where most errors originate.
What analyses you can run (and the modules)
Out of the box, jamovi covers what a standard thesis needs: descriptives, t-tests, ANOVA (including repeated-measures), correlation, linear and logistic regression, contingency tables and factor analysis. Its major advantage is the modules you install with one click for advanced analyses: jAMM for mediation and moderation, GAMLj for mixed and multilevel models, reliability analysis and confirmatory factor analysis modules. That takes you much further than basic SPSS without touching any code.
How to choose and run your test
The test is determined by your design, not the software. If you are uncertain which one applies, use the guide on how to choose the statistical test. For the specific jamovi workflow from installation to reporting, the tutorial on jamovi for the doctoral thesis step by step covers it in full. The overall analysis process is in how to analyze thesis data step by step.
The advantage: output that is nearly APA-ready
Jamovi presents results in journal-style tables, so copy-pasting into your thesis requires far less reformatting than SPSS. Even so, it is worth checking the final format against the guide on how to report results in APA 7, particularly for italic statistical symbols and decimal places.
When jamovi is not enough
For the vast majority of theses, jamovi is more than sufficient, including mediation and multilevel via modules. But if your model is a complex SEM, a multi-level model with many levels, or a fine-grained measurement invariance analysis, R (with lavaan or lme4) remains the standard reviewers expect. If you find the module does not deliver what your supervisor asks for, that is a good signal to ask for help before forcing the analysis.
Jamovi not covering what your thesis requires?
I am a PhD in Psychology and I solve your analysis in jamovi or R, from the dataset to the APA write-up. If the module falls short, I take it to R without you having to learn it. In psychology or any health discipline. Free initial diagnosis.
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